Kith

Rue Silver's life is not what it appears to be. Her mother is a faerie, and has been taken back to the faerie realm. As Rue goes to bring her back, she must travel deep into an inhuman world. At the same time, the faerie realm is venturing into our world too, and taking its toll on those Rue loves. When her grandfather's plans threaten Rue's city, she realizes that she's the only one who can stop him. But is Rue a human or a faerie? Where does she fit? How does she know the difference between love and enchantment?

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Rue’s maternal grandfather Aubrey lurks like a spider in a web, urbane, silent and oh so sure of his ultimate victory. Ms. Black shows how his influence is gradually separating Rue from her friends and family. It’s a familiar tactic among cunning generals—divide and conquer. The nuts and bolts of his plan—involving murder, subterfuge and the seduction of otherworldly fae—show us just what a formidable adversary he really is.

Ms. Black’s story is as thrilling in this sequel as in its predecessor “Kin”. She ably shows us what makes the sidhe world so alluring; Rue’s slow but sure submission to the maternal side of her nature is made to seem wonderful instead of terrifying. The illustrations of Mr. Naifeh are equally rich in detail, filled with shadow and hinting of grandeur.

What really grips in this story is the intricate nature of human interaction. While the fae remain odd and unapproachable, the human characters ache with longing, desire, anger, misery, jealousy and thwarted love, for each other and the Fair Folk. They are the heart that beats fearfully and fiercely in the midst of the frosty sidhe. It is ultimately their fate that keeps us coming back to this beguiling series.